From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Two of the top programs in the state clashed in the South Jersey Group 3 sectional race Saturday, and Ocean City emerged with a dramatic three-point win over Mainland Regional

Ocean City won its 12th sectional title with a 48-51 nail-biter over Mainland at DREAM Park in Logan Township.

Mainland had beaten Ocean City by 44 points at Shore Coaches and 18 points at the Cape-Atlantic Meet last week at Stockton. Both teams are ranked in the top 15 in New Jersey.

But on Saturday, junior Maeve Smith was the overall winner, junior Chloe Care placed 5th and senior Frankie Ritzel 5th to lead the Ocean City pack. The Red Raiders then placed three runners from 15th through 18th to clinch the team title. Sophomore Gabrielle Henry was Ocean City’s 4th finisher in 15th, freshman Lillian Flora 17th and 6th runner junior Zoe Zammit 18th, giving Ocean City six runners in the top 20.

Smith ran 18:08.09 – 6th-fastest in course history – to become Ocean City’s first individual sectional winner since Alexa Palmieri in 2018. Care ran 19:38, Ritzel 20:37, Henry 21:14, Flora 21:18 and Zammit 21:19.

Junior Sofia Day and senior Gillian Lovett ran 2-3 for Mainland, Day in 18:26 and Lovett 18:46. Senior Sophie Goldstein placed 11th in 20:48, junior Ava McDole 12th in 20:59 and senior Claudia Booth 24th in 21:35.

Ocean City also won sectional team titles in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Smith is the latest in a very long list of Ocean City girls who’ve won sectional titles: Melody Sye in 1982, Mary Jo Dougherty in 1986 and 1987, Kelly Dougherty in 1988, Megan Hartman in 1992 and 1993, Abbey Hartman in 1985, Brittany Sedberry in 2002, 2003 and 2004, Bridget Flynn in 2013, Devin Grisbaum in 2014 and Palmieri in 2018.

Moorestown had a very good race and finished 3rd with 84 points, and Clearview [104] and Shawnee [117] also qualified for the state Group 3 meet Saturday at Holmel County Park.

Senior Paige McCabe led Moorestown with a 6th-place finish in 20:06 and the Quakers placed their next four scorers – junior Noelia Reyes, senior Julia Brock, freshman Sophia DiFiore and junior Gabrielle DeJoseph – between 16th and 23rd. This will be Moorestown’s first trip to states since 2014.

Clearview senior Allison Roes placed 4th in 19:34, senior teammate Margaret Wisniewski was 7th in 20:12, Winslow’s Ava Millner ran 20:19 for 8th, and Shawnee junior Paige Cline ran 20:21 and placed 9th.